Handmade cosmetics retailer Lush is embarking on an ambitious expansion programme in mainland Europe that could see the Poole-based company double in size over the next year.
UK property manager Molly Morris has been appointed to spearhead the European acquisition drive.
Morris claimed it was the opening earlier this year of a store at the new Xanadu centre in Madrid, Europe's largest shopping mall, that convinced the company that its format could work in a range of European markets.
Her target is to open 20 to 30 stores next year.
In addition to Spain, key markets for Lush are Germany, France and Belgium.
It has already acquired two stores in the Netherlands, and four others in Germany, but this could grow to more than a dozen within a year.
However, Lush is not forgetting about the UK. The cosmetics chain has 51 stores, and Morris said this will continue to grow at a rate of 15 to 20 units a year until the company reaches its UK target of 100 stores.
Morris said the preference is usually for high street, rather than mall units, in prime or near-prime positions.
'We don't want to be everywhere,' she said. 'We want the brand to keep its 'wow' factor. The art is to make it accessible while retaining a certain mystique.'
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